Latest news with #ConnSmythetrophy
NBC Sports
28-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Playoff MVP Sam Bennett agrees on 8-year, $64 million contract to stay with Florida Panthers
Greg Cote joins The Dan Le Batard Show to discuss how Connor McDavid remains the only player in NHL history to compile nine straight 90-point seasons without winning a Stanley Cup. SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Sam Bennett walked to the front of the stage at the Florida Panthers' latest Stanley Cup championship parade, and before he could even speak the crowd began serenading him with their request. 'Eight more years! Eight more years!' they chanted, over and over. They got their wish. Bennett - who led the NHL with 15 goals in this year's playoffs and became the first Panthers player ever to score that many in a single postseason - is staying with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. He and Florida agreed Friday to a new eight-year contract worth $64 million, or $8 million per season. 'Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation,' Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said. 'He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise's first Conn Smythe trophy and is a dedicated contributor to our South Florida community off the ice. We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers.' Bennett was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the playoffs, the first Florida player to ever win that award. The last time a Conn Smythe winner didn't open the following season with the same team he had that playoff run with was 1997, when goaltender Mike Vernon helped Detroit win that year's Cup - and then the Red Wings traded him to San Jose that summer. It is the first of three big decisions that the Panthers have been waiting on heading into free agency, the others being what forward Brad Marchand - a trade deadline pickup who became an enormous part of the run to this Cup - and defenseman Aaron Ekblad will do going forward. The Bennett signing is another huge move by Zito, who now has eight players - all of them key parts of the team - under contract with the Panthers through at least the 2029-30 season. Bennett joins Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling on that list. The raise is a massive one for Bennett, who just finished the final year of a four-year contract that paid him just under $18 million. He had a postseason like almost none other; the only other player to have at least 15 goals and 48 penalty minutes in the same playoff run was Pittsburgh's Kevin Stevens in 1991. He had given indications throughout this offseason process - including at a nightclub during the Panthers' days-long initial Cup celebration - that he intended to remain in Florida, but nothing got officially done until Friday. Bennett is coming off perhaps his finest season, with 25 goals and 26 assists in the regular season for a career-best 51 points.
Edmonton Journal
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Don Cherry, 91, signs off from Grapevine podcast for final time
Article content On the Panthers winning the Stanley Cup final: 'They were the better team. But there's no way I was going to go against Edmonton.' On the Leafs being seen as the second-best team because they took the Panthers seven games: 'You have to if they went seven games. But it looked awful that seventh game.' On whether Brad Marchand should have won the Conn Smythe trophy as the post-season MVP: 'I thought Marchand was pretty good. They should have given it to both of them. Marchand should have won it.' Though Cherry had his detractors, many would say that Hockey Night In Canada has never been the same since his departure, a broadcast that has lacked a strong identity through a number of personnel changes. The other side of the debate, of course, is that it was time for Cherry to go and the controversial comment was the final straw for the Rogers executives who sent him packing. Though the podcast had its followers, obviously it had nowhere near the impact of Cherry's words delivered from the Hockey Night In Canada pulpit, must-see viewing for hockey fans every Saturday night for decades. It's undeniable, then, that the fact Cherry will no longer utilize a forum for his thoughts on the hockey world will mark the end of one of the longest and most successful runs in Canadian sports broadcasting.
Miami Herald
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
‘I can get used to this:' Panthers soak in yet another Stanley Cup parade
Matthew Tkachuk was in his natural environment on Sunday afternoon. As the Florida Panthers paraded down A1A in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, the star winger and one of the catalysts to this current run soaked in the moment once again. Wearing a championship belt around his waist and with a cigar in hand, he was one of the lives of a party fit for South Florida. And, of course, he made an obligatory pit stop on the parade route to the Elbo Room to shotgun a beer before the team got to the stage for the rally to cap the festivities. 'I can get used to this,' Tkachuk said. Panthers fans can, too. It was estimated that more than 200,000 packed Fort Lauderdale Beach for the parade. 'This is amazing,' Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. 'What a day we're having.' And the Panthers did it their way, just like they did throughout their run to a second championship that saw them beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, Carolina Hurricanes in five games and finally the Edmonton Oilers in six games. They've heard the hate they had been getting from opposing fan bases since winning it all again. Players made it clear during their celebration: They hear it, but they frankly don't care. 'A lot of people, they don't like the way we play,' said center Sam Bennett, who won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP after leading the league with 15 goals in the postseason. 'They call us dirty. They call us nasty. They call us bullies. So I would like to take this time to apologize ... Bennett paused momentarily for effect. '...to absolutely [expletive] no one! We're the double champs!' Added forward Brad Marchand: 'If you can't handle it, don't win! Let's go!' And so the Panthers partied on, recognizing and showing appreciation for each other and for the fans as they kick off another summer of celebration. 'The men behind me love you,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice, wearing a shirt with his two cats (Penny and Poppy) on the front, told the crowd. 'All of you love the men behind me. ... I hope these men are a gift to you.' Marchand, who took the mic to serenades of 'Thank you, Boston' after the Panthers acquired him from the Bruins at the trade deadline, said he never could have imagined being a part of something so special.' Prior to the trade, he was a Panthers villain after two hostile playoff series between the teams in 2023 and 2024. Now, in just three short months with the team, he's a fan favorite that South Florida hopes stays with the team. He's set to become a free agent on July 1, as are Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, but by the sounds of things, it doesn't seem like Marchand is going anywhere. 'I'm so happy I don't have to play against these guys anymore,' Marchand said at the parade. 'And I'm so happy I don't have to worry about getting knocked out by Benny anymore.' Bennett, who on Thursday night during a celebratory team trip to E11even nightclub in Miami made his intention known that he wants to stay, reiterated his hope for 'eight more years' with the Panthers. That's the longest contract extension the team is allowed to give him if they can agree to terms before July 1. And Ekblad has mentioned time and again his desire to stay with the club. He's been with them his whole career since being taken No. 1 overall in 2014. He thanked team owner Vinnie Viola for believing in Ekblad for his entire tenure with the team. But he stopped short of saying anything concrete about his hopeful return. 'It's funny,' Ekblad said, 'after E11even, my agent called me and said, 'Don't say whatever Benny said.' Gotta hold onto that leverage, eh buddy?' But through it all, it was another celebration to remember — just 12 months after the first celebration to remember. Steve Goldstein, the team's TV play-by-play man who served as the emcee for the event, remembered how last year told fans to 'Enjoy this. It's once in a lifetime.' He quickly apologized for that. 'Forget about it being once in a lifetime,' Goldstein said. 'Because guess what? They're baaaaaaack.' So ... same time next year? 'Who wants a third Cup?' Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell asked the crowd, getting cheers in response. Added goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky: 'What an amazing day. Thank you all for coming. It was a great year, great playoffs, great victory. I like to get together this time of year. I think with this incredible ownership, with great management, with the great coaching staff, this fantastic group of guys, with incredible you guys — the fans — and the blessing from God, we can all be together here next year.'
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
From grit to greatness: Sam Bennett's legendary 2025 playoff run
Image Via Getty (Sam Bennett's legendary 2025 playoff run) In the flashing of numerous cameras and the uproar of the massive crowd filling the arena for such historic days, Bennett was more than a player; he was the heartbeat that kept the Florida Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup victories alive, with Bennett's clutch performances in combination with grit and a record-breaking playoff run that defined Florida's postseason journey in the first place. With the spotlight about to shift to what the future holds for him, Bennett's brilliance in the playoffs has simultaneously inscribed his name into the depths of both NHL history and Florida's legacy. The postseason brilliance of Sam Bennett redefined what clutch performance means There are hockey players for regular seasons, and then there are players such as Sam Bennett, built for big-time hockey. During the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers forward emerged as the indispensable heart of the offense. Bennett ended the postseason with the most goals of any player in this year, 15 in 23 games. But the truly famous one? Thirty-two percent of those goals were huge road goals, actually 13, an NHL record for most road goals scored in a single postseason. The Identity of the Florida Panthers is Sam Bennett Following through on dramatically elevated levels of pressure, the first-round pick's forechecking and physical presence attracted the eyes of many. His performance was about that moment, not necessarily when He scored. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This $7 Generic Cialis Is Actually Worth It FridayPlans Learn more Undo During the finals, Bennett yielded five goals against the Edmonton Oilers at these crucial junctures: momentum was either broken or cast on pressure. The analysts had opined that Bennett was a hallmark of a man who rose to deliver in a high-danger scoring situation. He performed in any situation, be it low-scoring chances, pushing pucks to the net, or scoring with pressure mounting on him. Serving as his advantage was his prowess in reading the play transition and exploiting gaps in the defense. The Edge tracking League data also noted his elite skating endurance and burst speed, placing him in the top percentile for offensive exertion. Conn Smythe trophy and the historic repeat for the Panthers In recognition of his outstanding efforts, Bennett received the Conn Smythe Trophy, which made him the first player in Florida Panthers history to garner the Playoff MVP honors. It was not just another award; it mirrored Bennett's contributions during Florida's dream run. Early in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Bennett scored just over two minutes into the opening period on enemy ice, swinging equilibrium in favor of the Florida Panthers. Another well-timed goal in Game 5 essentially sealed the fate of the series for the Panthers. What made his impact more deeply felt, was the consistency with which the idea was maintained: Bennett racked up points in six consecutive games in the Finals, always ensuring his dominant presence in front of the net. Not merely a goalscorer, he doubly continued to serve as an enforcer and leader, taking hits, drawing penalties, and making space for his linemates. The future is uncertain, but Sam Bennett's place in Panthers lore is permanent With all those trades and free-agency questions being bounced around, it would be impossible for analysts and fans alike not to ask, "What's next for Bennett?" Little hints of staying in Florida have been dropped by Bennett, yet no official announcement regarding an extension has been made. Regardless of where Bennett goes next, his role in the official history of Florida's back-to-back Cups will never be forgotten. It has proven that every championship team needs someone like Sam Bennett: fearless, relentless, and unshakably clutch. Also Read: Hockey hearts: Stories of the Love of NHL stars and their remarkable partners Bennett's 2025 playoff campaign was nothing short of legendary. From setting road-gaol records to winning MVP, he became the ultimate postseason Wunderkind for the Panthers. Wherever he ends up next, he has a guaranteed legacy in Florida. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
‘I ain't ... leaving,' Panthers' Sam Bennett says at Miami nightclub celebration
The Florida Panthers continued their Stanley Cup championship celebration Thursday night into Friday morning by traveling south to Miami for a night at E11even, a world-famous nightclub where they also partied after their first title a year ago. Amid the frenzied party — which included Sam Reinhart climbing a stripper pole, Brad Marchand crowd surfing and, yes, plenty of booze flowing — a key player might have revealed big news regarding his future with the team. Center Sam Bennett, who won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoffs MVP and is slated to become a free agent on July 1, told the crowd from the main stage that he intends to stay with the team long-term. 'I ain't [expletive] leaving!' Bennett proclaimed to the crowd partying with the team. Now, nothing is official on a deal just yet, but Bennett is a player the Panthers are prioritizing bringing back. He has been an identity player for the franchise during the past few years with his combination of physicality and scoring touch embodying the exact style of play Florida has been honing for three years under coach Paul Maurice. His stellar postseason — he led the league with 15 goals while also finishing second with 107 hits — made for the case that his price tag could skyrocket if he chooses to test the open market. But Bennett has found a home in Florida and saw a career resurgence here. After struggling to take off to start his career with the Calgary Flames, Bennett thrived when given an expanded opportunity with the Panthers. Bennett has put up 196 points (95 goals, 101 assists) over 289 regular-season games while laying out 616 hits and blocking 151 shots. In the playoffs, Bennett has 29 goals and 59 points in 77 career games for the Panthers. For comparison, Bennett had just 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists) in 402 games in Calgary. He also knows their window to contend for titles is still wide open. 'It's harder than I ever imagined to win the Stanley Cup once and twice was even harder,' Bennett said Tuesday after Florida secured the win. 'It's a huge honor to be a part of this group. I'm not going to take it for granted. I love being here, and I love this team. It's a remarkable team to be part of, just from the whole the staff to the players to the management, owner, the coaches, like truly, everyone is world class here.' And if he holds true to his word from Thursday night, he's not going anywhere. In addition to Bennett, Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad are Florida's other key players set to enter free agency. The Panthers only have $19 million in cap space, but president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said he sees a path where all three could be re-signed. Meanwhile, for a glimpse of how things went down at E11ven, look below. The party will surely continue throughout town over the next couple days before the team's official parade on Sunday.
